Become a Child Care Provider

Are you thinking about starting your own child care business? If you love working with children, want to be your own boss, and have career where you make a difference every day, then becoming a child care provider may be right for you.

Parents and guardians in Western New York need high-quality child care so they can go to work every day. You have the opportunity to change your local community for the better by providing quality, affordable, and accessible care for the children around you. Use this form to see if starting a child care business is right for you.

Before you get started, it is important to consider which type of child care business you'd like to open, and what is the best for you and your family.

The first step to starting your own child care business is to take the "Child Day Care Orientation" through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). This orientation will walk you through all of the information needed in order to start a child care business. It will introduce you to important rules and regulations you will need to know in order to run your business, such as: necessary requirements, child care regulations, space requirements, and important information on adult-to-child ratios. The orientation will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete.

If you ever have any questions, please call Kristin Macha, Director of Community and Family Engagement at 716-877-6666 ext. 3086, or email us at info@wnychildren.org.

Child Care Resource Network makes every effort to serve all members of our community. If you have special needs that can not be accommodated through our website please call us or visit our offices. You may also e-mail us at info@wnychildren.org.